Editorial: Exercise Your Right To Vote

The deadline for voter registration is today, Oct. 14, whether by mail, in-person or online. Those of age and of legal citizenship status should register as soon as possible if they have not yet registered. For New York residents, they can register online at the state’s website. It is simple and only takes a few minutes to fill out.

Midterm season is approaching, and voters can fill out their ballot Nov. 8 this year. This election, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 out of 100 seats in the Senate are up for election. In New York, the position of state governor is also available. Kathy Hochul, who assumed governor after Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, is running for a full term. Hochul’s opposition is Lee Zeldin, a Republican.

Those who cannot vote should encourage their friends that are able to vote. Those who can vote should research possible candidates, their beliefs and what policies they plan to put into action. SUNY Plattsburgh’s Department of Political Science held a panel Oct. 13 to discuss and provide information on the midterm election. 

After the election of 2020, mail-in voting grew in popularity. Mail-in ballots are available again this election season. To receive a mail-in ballot, a voter must request one by Oct. 24 and have it postmarked or submitted in person by Nov. 8. 

It is crucial that citizens of the United States exercise their right to vote. It is one of the few ways that we as people can take control of the policies put into place. We elect those who then elect Supreme Court Justices, but we cannot vote on Supreme Court Justices. It is integral to vote for ideal candidates and create a better future. 

Many of-age and registered voters did not use their right in the presidential election of 2016. This led to the election of President Donald Trump. In the proceeding election, 17 million more people filled their ballot, according to the government census. The 2020 election had voters realize the power they held, and made it evident that they no longer wanted Trump as a leader of their nation. President Joe Biden’s win in 2020 was not solely a result of his campaigning or his prospected policies. It was due to millions of Americans realizing the power they held, and the new generation of able-voters. Sixty-six point eight percent of registered voters voted in 2020, the highest turn out in the last two decades, according to the government census. 

Vote for your future, your familys’ future, your friends and everyone you care about. This is one of the few times where you can make an impact on politics, local or federal. This is where your silence is broken. This is where you stand up for and support your peers who are unable to vote, whatever the circumstance may be. This is the time of year where you can be incredibly involved in your community and even change it.